Last month's Interbike show featured the typical Vegas fare. Among the overpriced hotels, underpriced shrimp, and scantily clad girls handing out promotional materials were a couple of new side show attractions. One of the more fun events came from Momentum Magazine's Urban Legends show. The runway fashion/bike style show is the first of its kind in the states as Momentum has brought their Canadian model to their southern neighbors. Nice concept: Great music with some beautiful people and bikes. But it has some detractors. How can a machine with an intentionally low barrier of entry like a bicycle share the same spotlight as exclusively-priced fashion? Can anybody riding a recumbant really be "fashionable"? I won't taint the pool with my personal opinions as i believe this is a topic better left to discussion.
So here's the question for all you readers: What are your thoughts? Can bikes and high fashion share the same runway?
Well, I kind of think cycling and fashion already share the runway. how much would you spend on a really cool graphic jersey? Or the whole outfit? $300 maybe - I'd say that's exclusively priced for lycra, a zipper and padding. Hey, I'm not ashamed to admit my Timbuktu messenger bag matches my helmet.
If fashion gets folks on bikes, I'm all for it. Afterall, didn't Trek create the Lime and Lime accessories to appeal to people with a certain sense of iStyle?
Posted by: Laura | October 09, 2008 at 04:53 PM
I thought the fashion show was great. It proves, to me that is, you cannot look fashionable on a recumbant, or a high end road or mountain bike for that matter. But for some of the commuter and other urban/cruiser models, absolutely.
And in agreement with Laura, if it gets people on bikes that would not otherwise go near one, it's a good thing.
I think the Lime is a real hoot. I recommend it to people frequently. Had it been out when I bought my wife her bike, I would have bought it instead. And maybe she would ride it more.
Posted by: phil | October 11, 2008 at 06:19 PM
'Can anybody riding a recumbant really be "fashionable"' -- hahahah oh you're funny. At least the dude did a cool sideways skid on the 'bent. Don't forget that one of Momentum's writers is a 'bent fanatic.
The fashions were mostly clothing borrowed from the show floor and much of it consisted of repurposed or recycled fabrics.
Posted by: Cyclelicious | October 17, 2008 at 12:54 PM